MINUTES OF THE FIRST JOINT STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
UNITED STATES-JAPAN COOPERATIVE CANCER RESEARCH PROGRAM
Bethesda, Maryland
August 30 and 31, 1977
The meeting was called to order by Dr. Guy R. Newell, Chairman, NCI Scientific Group, and Co-Chairman, Joint Steering Committee at 1:00 p.m. in Conference Room 7, Building 31, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
The following members of the Steering Committee were in attendance: Dr. Haruo Sugano, Chairman of the JSPS Scientific Group and Co-Chairman of the Joint Steering Committee; Dr. Yuichi Yamamura; Dr. Takaski Sugimura; Mr. Kichimasa Soda, Head, Program Department, JSPS; Mrs. Yuko Furukawa, JSPS; Dr. Gregory T. O’Conor; Dr. Robert R. Omata; and Mrs. JoAnne Day, program assistant. Dr. Arthur C. Upton, Director, NCI, and Dr. William Terry, Program Coordinator for Immunology, were invited participants.
Dr. Newell welcomed the Japanese members of the Joint Steering Committee and expressed a special welcome to Mr. Soda upon his succeeding Mr. Genkichi Hara as Head, Program Department.
Dr. Sugano expressed the appreciation of the Japanese Committee for the warm welcome. He then expressed his warmest congratulations to Dr. Upton on his appointment as Director, National Cancer Institute. Dr. Upton responded by thanking the Japanese members for their warm congratulations. He stated that his past association as Program Coordinator for Chemical Carcinogenesis had led him to regard the U.S.-Japan Cooperative Cancer Research Program as one of the great positive and meritorious activities of the NCI. He stated that changes may be required as the field of science evolves. Modifications should be made to strengthen the Program and to identify common objectives. He pledged his personal support of the Program.
The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the continuation of the Program for an additional five years beyond the initial five-year agreement, which terminates in March 1979. One of the main topics was the proposal for the restructuring of the Program in order to accommodate the present and future progress and objectives of the Program and to provide greater flexibility.
The meeting was then directed to the evaluation of cooperative activities during the first five-year period. After some discussion, it was unanimously agreed that the Program Coordinators provide the following information, in addition to the Annual Reports which are currently presented at the Annual Meetings of the NCI-JSPS Joint Scientific Groups:
The review and evaluation should be provided sometime in early 1978 and then presented at the 1978 Annual Meeting in order that the five-year evaluation will be included in the 1978 report. The 1977 report will include the activities accomplished during 1976 and 1977. The Drafting Committee should be made aware of the need for the five-year evaluation of each of the Program Areas.
In order to schedule the future meeting, it was agreed that the Drafting Committee, composed of Dr. Yoji Ikawa, Dr. Takeshi Hirayama, Mrs. Furukawa, Dr. Chester Herman, Dr. Glenn Sheline, and Dr. Robert Omata, could plan to meet in March or April of 1978 to coordinate the preparation and publication of the Second Progress Report. The target date for the Report will be May 1978.
It was also agreed that the Second Joint Steering Committee Meeting will be held in June 1978 to discuss further the proposal for modification of the Program. This meeting will probably be held in Japan.
The Fifth Annual Joint Scientific Meeting will be tentatively scheduled for October 1978 in Japan. The formal continuation of the Program will be discussed and acted upon at that time.
After considerable discussion, it was agreed that the Joint Steering Committee would meet at least once a year for program planning and hold a larger meeting or conference biennially inviting experts in 1980 and 1982 to make presentations on certain topics of cancer research which would be of mutual interest to all of the participants. These participants would be those scientists who had responsibilities in organizing the meetings in the various sub-areas under the three or four main Program Categories.
The subject of the main Program Areas or Categories and the various sub-areas under each Program Area were discussed quite extensively. It was decided that there should be four main Program Areas: (1) Carcinogenesis, (2) Biology and Diagnosis, (3) Treatment, and (4) Interdisciplinary Coordination, Development and Resources. It was decided to drop the area of Organ Site. That would not necessarily preclude emphasis on a certain organ site, but the choice has been made not to have a formal category or Program Area for each organ site. A meeting concentrating on a certain organ site could be programmed in any one of the four broad Program Areas depending on which area the main emphasis would be placed, such as carcinogenesis, biology, treatment, or in terms of interdisciplinary approach to organ site. This whole subject was postponed for further discussion for the next day.
The subject of scientist exchange was discussed. The JSPS representatives were very pleased with the progress and the numbers involved in the exchange program. The concept of team visits was discussed and it was generally agreed that team visits were very useful in that two or three scientists have been able to command large audiences for their seminars and the visitors are given a chance to visit and meet with very large numbers of scientists on both sides. The JSPS and NCI representatives feel that efforts should be made to send the younger scientists from both sides for long-term visits (6 to 12 months) in order to have more meaningful and worthwhile collaboration and experiences. The U.S. side has had some difficulty in recruiting younger scientists desiring to go to Japan for long-term visits, while it has been more productive to recruit young Japanese scientists. One of the main problems for the Japanese side has been the difficulty of obtaining suitable living accommodations in Japan. This is one problem that will have to be considered in the future. The U.S. side has had good fortune in having many American scientists applying to spend two to six weeks in Japan.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m.
The Joint Steering Committee Meeting was reconvened at 9:00 a.m., August 31, 1977, by Drs. Newell and Sugano.
Dr. Sugano presented the NCI Steering Committee with two copies of the county cancer mortality maps in Japan (1969-1971) recently published by the Daiwa Health Foundation.
Dr. Newell briefly summarized the terms which were agreed upon by the Joint Steering Committee regarding the evaluation and review of the first five-year period of the U.S.-Japan Program; the establishment of the four main Program Areas (Carcinogenesis; Biology and Diagnosis; Treatment; and Interdisciplinary Coordination, Development, and Research), and the tentative schedule of the Joint Steering Committee.
In terms of organ sites, it was agreed that the new proposed structure would not preclude emphasis on a certain organ site. The new programming scheme will be a change in form and operating style rather than a drastic change in substance. The general consensus was that the total program was very successful and the new structure would not destroy the past and present activities. Considerable responsibility on program planning would rest with the new Program Area leaders. The newly appointed Program Coordinators would become members of the Joint Steering Committee, since the Committee will assume responsibility for reviewing the program substance, as well as policy and procedures. The newly formed Committee will not be too large and, therefore, more easily manageable.
The Committee proposed and approved the invitation to the following persons as the Program Area Coordinators:
Carcinogenesis:
Dr. Takashi Sugimura
Dr. I. Bernard Weinstein
Biology and Diagnosis:
Dr. Yuichi Yamamura
Dr. William Terry
Treatment:
Dr. Yoshio Sakurai
Dr. Stephen Carter
Interdisciplinary Program Coordination:
Dr. Haruo Sugano
Dr. Guy Newell
The tentative schedule of meetings, beginning in 1978, was approved. It was agreed that the new Joint Steering Committee would meet at least once a year and a larger scientific conference would be programmed on a biennial basis in 1980 and 1982.
It was suggested by Dr. O’Conor and Dr. Upton that a tentative list of sub-areas in each of the major Program Areas be discussed.
Dr. Terry and Dr. Yamamura stated that one of the most difficult problems for the Steering Committee to face is the formulation of a new five-year Program and to define carefully what the goals of the Program are. It will be very difficult to define the goals and the high priority sub-areas. These questions will have to be faced in the near future to initiate the next five-year Program.
Dr. Upton stated that one of the goals would be to bring together, in some systematic way, those experts in both countries to promote the exchange of experience, information, expertise, and forward-looking planning. The field of cancer is very broad and there are many avenues of research which, without some systematic exchange of investigators in both countries, would not accomplish the desired results. In addition, each country has special problems, experiences, resources, or expertise which should provide this partnership the opportunity to share and benefit. The Program should seek out carefully those particular areas in which the Japanese or American experience may be unique and in this way share something that would not be otherwise available to both sides.
Dr. Sugimura stated that in his experience as Program Coordinator for Chemical Carcinogenesis, he has found that the area is extremely broad, and that the objective should not be to concentrate on only one clearly defined subject but to have the Program Area support several specific topics in order to provide a broad sense and a broad view of the field of carcinogenesis. Other Program Areas are programmed and operated in a different manner, particularly those that focused on a specific topic or theme for several years and those that effectively promoted collaboration.
Dr. Upton stated that the goats and objectives should not be too rigid. One of the main goals is to exchange information. Other goals are to promote joint clinical trials and to train and exchange scientists, as well as foster collaborative investigations.
It was brought out that many of the original goals of the first five years have been met by means of the scientific meetings, exchange of personnel, and exchange of materials. There are at least two avenues that can be followed to attain certain goals.
Dr. O’Conor stated that he supports whole-heartedly the philosophy that was outlined as a general goal and a specific goal. He further stated that any bilateral program is very difficult to evaluate in an objective fashion, but that success of this U.S.-Japan Program has been seen in the enthusiasm with which all the scientists continue to support and participate. As long as both sides continue to enjoy the association as part of their scientific life, the Program can be called a success. Although this may not be a measurable quantity, the measure of success has been in that some 500 scientists from Japan and the U.S. have already been involved either directly or indirectly in the Program. All of the participants have expressed universal satisfaction and enjoyment in the joint participation.
It was pointed out by Drs. Sugano and Newell that by establishing the four main Program Areas, there will be more flexibility in programming. There are several ways to approach future programming with the first being the exchange of the “state-of-the-art” between each country, then looking into the comparative methodologies, and finally to lay out the problems that each country is facing. Dr. Newell stated that in the U.S. we are facing terrible problems in terms of public demands and demands by the regulatory agencies, particularly in the area of carcinogenesis as well as treatment. Some of the future programming could lean toward an action-oriented approach in some Program Areas. It would be up to the Program Coordinators to discuss and layout the plans, and bring them before the Joint Steering Committee for implementation.
It was suggested by Dr. Upton that each of the newly designated Program Coordinators should communicate and make preliminary proposals on what sub-areas would be under their areas and report briefly at the next Joint Meeting of the Scientific Groups.
It was suggested by Dr. Newell that a small meeting be held on Sunday, October 30, for the newly designated coordinators to meet. Drs. Yamamura and Upton felt that a tentative list of sub-areas should be presented during the October-November meeting and that there would be time before June 1978 to establish a more decisive list of sub-areas to be included under each Program Area. In this manner, there will be some flexibility and provision to maintain continuity of the current program format and planning.
It was the general consensus that the restructuring of the Program Areas should be deliberate, well-planned, and move slowly in order not to be disruptive of the present program.
The past and current activities of each of the Program Areas will fall logically in one of the main three Program Areas in the future. There are obviously some Program Areas as well as specific topics, such as Cytology, that could be ideally classified under the new category, Interdisciplinary Programs.
Dr. Sugimura stated that there are certain research areas, such as cancer virology and molecular biology, which have been somewhat retarded in Japan. With some emphasis on basic research under Biology and Diagnosis and the Carcinogenesis Program Areas, there will be a certain amount of interest and stimulation in Japan. Dr. Upton expressed his opinion that the fields of molecular and virus biology are moving in the direction of somatic cell genetics, mutation, and gene expressions and it appears that the mutagens, viral genetics, and gene regulation will be coming together in the next 10 years.
Dr. O’Conor pointed out that the Program has been very impressive in terms of scientific exchange of information and collaboration. The progress of the Program should not be diminished but strengthened in some of the weak spots. It was reiterated by Dr. Newell that the success of the Program has been bolstered by the enthusiasm and effort of all of the participants. The enthusiastic participation of all of the scientists has been one of the main goals and accomplishments. The mutual respect developed between the Japanese and American scientists has been most impressive.
It was pointed out by Dr. Newell that the proposed change of structure and change of organization are not prompted by disappointment and frustration in the existing arrangement. On the contrary, it is being prompted by the belief that reorganization into three or four major Program Areas can best foster coordination and promote the effectiveness of the individual programs or project activities. The changes are being made to make it a better and more flexible program.
It was decided that Dr. Newell will discuss with Drs. Carter and Weinstein their future responsibilities and that Dr. Sugano will likewise communicate with Dr. Sakurai.
It was agreed that a brief description of the proposed changes will be announced to the Joint NCI-JSPS Scientific Groups at the Fall 1978 meeting.
It was agreed that the next Joint Steering Committee Meeting will be held in Japan on June 2 and 3, 1978.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert R. Omata, Ph.D.
Executive Secretary
U.S.-Japan Cooperative
Cancer Research Program
National Cancer Institute